Page 18 of Surviving the Break
“Confident you’ll get lucky tonight, eh?” he teased.
“I’d better, or so help the innocent people around me.” I’d been pretty miserable as of late. I stopped with my hand on the sliding door handle leading to the backyard. “Hey, you’re positive Ash won’t be at the fundraiser, right?” He’d said the fundraiser conflicted with his work schedule and that there was no way he could shift things around. I worried that the truth was something far worse.
Justin picked up on my concern. “Are you scared he’ll bid on you?”
Scared? More liketerrified.
IVALETEDmy truck and pushed through the double-glass doors of the Italian bistro. I spotted Antonio seated at a corner table in the dimly lit establishment. I pointed his way when the maître d’ gave me a questioning look. He gestured for me to head right over.
“Max.” Antonio stood, embracing me before we took our seats. He was a few inches shorter than me, in shape but compact, and he wore his raven, shoulder-length hair tied at the nape.
“I hope I didn’t keep you waiting long?” I leaned back in my seat, giving our server room to pour the wine that Antonio had taken the liberty of ordering.
“Nonsense. I hope you don’t mind?” He pointed to the bottle now sitting in the wine bucket stand.
I was more of a beer guy, but since I’d agreed to the fancy dinner, I couldn’t complain. “It’s fine, thank you.”
The tables were situated several feet apart, classical music could be heard playing faintly in the background, and votive candles provided much of the lighting in our area. The place was created with romance in mind.
We talked for a short time about his plans for takeover and restructure of the restaurant—which was his pretense for getting me there—and I gave my input on what would and wouldn’t be feasible in regard to renovations. “At this stage what you’d really need is an architect. Someone to draw up plans that align with your vision.” Of course he knew that. “You call me once the wrecking ball is in place.”
“I suppose you’re right.” His lips curled sardonically, and the way he undressed me with his gaze, like he’d waited a lifetime to have me, set me on guard. “I had to get you here somehow.”
“I’d already agreed to go out with you.” I scanned the expensive art lining the walls. “I’m a cheap date.”
The flickering flame from the candlelight set fire to Antonio’s inky eyes. “Nonsense. You deserve better than a burger and fries.”
Christ. He wantedmore.I took a sip of my wine, hiding my disappointment behind my glass, nearly choking when a familiar scent filtered into my nostrils, curling like smoke into my lungs. Our server came to take our order, and I asked for the first thing on the menu. I couldn’t say what it was.
Antonio droned on and on. His words sounded like they were being spoken underwater. My mind raced; my eyes tracked the vicinity even faster. There, at the bar, situated to the left of the room and behind Antonio, satAshton.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
The tips of my ears heated from my anger. I forced a smile. “Fine. I need to use the restroom.” I stood, as calmly as possible, and strode with purpose in Ash’s direction. His brown suit-clad back faced me when I snarled, “Are you following me?”
He turned to me with honest surprise written on his face. “Max? What are you doing here? Of course I’m not following you.” Now that his brain had caught up with the situation, he appeared offended by my suggestion.
I felt off balance. Floundering in the wind. “I’m on a date.” My tone lost some of its frigidness after I realized how ridiculous and panicked I sounded.
His brows smoothed out, and he looked over my shoulder, spotting the only occupied table that was missing a person from its party of two. “I see.” His jaw hardened, but his tone remained neutral. “I didn’t take this place to be your cup of tea.” He took in my appearance. “Nice suit.”
There was no mistaking the hunger in his voice or the predatory part of him lurking behind his ash-colored eyes. He maintained his composure even though the stare he aimed in Antonio’s direction said he was anything but. Heat pooled in my belly. “What areyoudoing here?” I asked.
“You’re not the only one meeting a companion.” His eyes traveled somewhere behind me. “And there he is. If you’ll excuse me.” He got up from the bar stool; as he moved past me, his chest brushed mine. His scent embedded itself into the fibers of my being. It would take an internal cleansing to get rid of it. I turned to see him being seated at the table perpendicular to mine. Only visible from my seat. The bartender held a shot of scotch intended for Ash. I downed it, wincing from the burn, dropping a billfold, and then returned to my seat.
Ash sat at the end of the table that gave me a perfect view of the back of his head. This relieved me at first, knowing I wouldn’t have to see him watching me. Then it occurred to me that seeing hiscompanion’sreactions to him was a far worse experience. I could only imagine what obscene things were happening under their table to make his date sit straight and blush to his blond hairline. The beige tablecloth hid everything from view.
I found it hard to fake interest in conversation with Antonio and was more than happy to dig into the dish I ordered when it arrived. Anything to not have to pretend.
I’d had enough once Ash began feeding his thin-lipped date, going so far as to wipe the sauce from the corner of his mouth and then licking it off his own finger. I heard the smack of his lips from my seat.
“Are you all right?” Antonio asked. “You’ve been rather quiet. I apologize if this place isn’t to your liking.” He forked a ravioli into his mouth.
“It’s great. I admit, I am a little tired.” I dropped my voice. “How about we clear the check and get out of here? Go back to your place.” Because we certainly weren’t going back to mine. Antonio was the type that would want to stay.
“I was hoping to go back to yours,” he whispered.
I sighed internally. The whole night was a waste of my time. No action for me. Ash’s deep laughter sent a shiver down my spine, and the instant I cut my eyes over to his table to see his date melting in his seat, my temper broke from its leash. Ash stood, dropped his napkin onto the table, and walked to the rear of the restaurant.
